Poolplaying accessory



R. 5. FRANKS POOLPLAYING ACCESSORY -Jan. 24, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1964 11v VENTOR 2/ i 50%; J1 fianfs' flllllll/lll/I/l/ll ATTORNEY R. S. FRANKS POOLPLAYING ACCESSORY Jan. 24, 1967 Filed Dec. 17, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iaer/J By Fan/t2 I ATTORNEY POOLPLAYING ACCESSORY Robert S. Franks, West Berlin, N.J., assignor to Advanced Technical Products (10., a partnership, Berlin,

Filed Dec. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 419,095 Claims. (Cl. 35-29) billiards or pool, a high degree of skill requires long experience and knowledge to properly locate the position of banking for a successful bank shot. That is, when the object ball is to engage the cushion or rail of the pool table before rolling into the intended pocket or hole, judgment and knowledge must be exercised in directing the object ball to the cushion at the proper location for accurate banking.

While conventional pool tables have heretofore been provided with markings along the rail, usually each assuming the shape of a diamond and therefore referred to as diamonds, for aid in locating proper banking positions, few players have sufficiently mature judgment and knowledge in this regard to make successful use of the diamonds. Hence, bank shots, for the most part, are guesswork, with varying degrees of success.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique device, as an accessory for playing pool, wherein bank shots may be accurately calculated to provide the proper position of banking, and wherein pool players may more rapidly and eificiently acquire the necessary judgment and skill required for successful bank shots.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a poolplaying accessory of the type described which is substantially automatic in operation, being capable of use by persons having no experience or training, and whichis durable and reliable throughout a long useful life'.'

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a poolplaying accessory having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is extremely simple in construction and can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

.The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing a poolplaying accessory constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the device of FIG- URES 1 and 2, illustrating the device in an operative condition of use; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view showing a slightly modified embodiment of the instant poolplaying accessory.

, Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES l-3 thereof, the device is there generally designated and includes a generally flat, substantially rectangular body member or plate 11. One corner region 12 of the plate member 11 is provided with United States Fate'nt G markings, by any suitable means say printing, scribing, orblthe like, representing the playing surface of a pool ta e.

More particularly, the corner region 12 is marked with a generally rectangular line configuration 15 representing the rail or cushion of a pool table, and provided with a plurality of additional markings about the periphery of cushion marking 15 representing the pockets or holes of a pool table, as at 16. The several hole or pocket markings 16 are advantageously presented by distinguishing markings, such as colors and numerals. 'lhus, as seen in FIG- URE 3 the lower left-hand corner pocket is designated by numeral 1 and marked in yellow, the lower side pocket being designated by numeral 2 and represented in blue, the lower right-hand corner pocket being designated by numeral 3 and represented in red, the upper left-hand corner pocket being designated by numeral 4 and represented in brown, the upper side hole or pocket being designated by numeral 5 and represented in orange, and the upper right-hand corner pocket being designated by numeral 6 and represented in green. In addition, there are provided about the circumference of cushion marking 15 a plurality of diamond markings 17 corresponding to the diamonds along the rail of a conventional pool table. For convenience, there may be a gridwork of longitudinal and transverse lines 18 and 19, respectively, each extending between a pair of oppositely located diamonds 17. The lines or markings 18 and 19 may be considered as dia-- mond lines.

The remainder of the plate member 11, outside of the: region 12 representing a pool-table playing area, may be provided with a plurality of alignment markings, dots or points 29, advantageously keyed by any suitable means in; correspondence with respective hole markings 16. In particular, adjacent to hole marking 4, and in alignment with the latter and hole marking 1 is an alignment marking: designated 1 and represented in yellow. The alignment: marking 1 is spaced from the adjacent hole marking 4 a. distance equal to the spacing between hole markings 4 and 1. Similarly, adjacent to hole marking 5 and in: alignment with the latter and hole marking 2 is an align-- ment marking designated 2 and represented in blue. The: alignment marking 2 is spaced from the adjacent hole: marking 5 a distance equal to the spacing between hole: markings 5 and 2. An alignment marking designated 3'- and represented in red is located adjacent to hole marking; 6 and located in alignment with the latter hole marking: and hole marking 3, being spaced from hole marking 6' a distance equal to the spacing between hole markings 6' and 3. An additional alignment marking, to the right of alignment marking 3 is designated 2 and represented in: blue, being closest to the hole marking 6 and in alignment with the latter and the hole marking 2, being spacedl from the hole marking 6 a distance equal to the spacing: between hole markings 6 and 2. Also adjacent to hole: marking 6 and in alignment with the latter and hole marking 5 is an alignment marking 5 represented in orange and. spaced from the adjacent hole markings 6 a distance: equal to the spacing between hole markings 5 and 6.. Along the lower edge of plate member 11, as seen in: FIGURE 3, is an additional alignment marking desig-- nated 2 and represented in blue, being adjacent to hole: marking 3 and in alignment with the latter and hole mark-- ing 2, being spaced from the hole marking 3 a distance equal to the spacing between hole markings 2 and 3.. Along the right-hand edge of plate member 11, as seen, in FIGURE 3, in the upper corner thereof is an alignment marking designated 1 and represented in yellow, being closest to hole marking 6 and in alignment with the latter" hole marking and hole marking 1, and spaced from holemarking 6 a distance equal to the distance between hole:

markings 1 and 6. An alignment marking designated 4 is located along the right-hand edge of plate member II, as seen in FIGURE 3, being closest to hole marking 6 and in alignment with the latter and hole marking 4. The alignment marking 4 is spaced from the hole marking 6 a distance equal to the spacing between hole markings 4 and 6. Lastly, in the lower right-hand corner of plate member 11 is an additional alignment marking designated 1 closest to hole marking 3 and in alignment with the latter hole marking and hole marking 1, being spaced from hole marking 3 a distance equal to the spacing between hole markings 1 and 3.

Extending along opposite sides of the pool-table representation 12 there may be formed in the plate member 11 a pair of thru slots 25 each having an enlarged portion or opening 26 at one pair of adjacent ends. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the slots 25 are each formed with a longitudinally extending internal groove 27, the grooves opening outwardly away from each other into respective slots, and each opening at one end into the adjacent enlarged slot portion 26.

A mounting member or carriage 28 extends transversely across and above the pool-table representation 12 between the slots 25, and is provided at its opposite ends with generally U-shaped slide members 29 depending into respective slots 25 and slidably engaging into adjacent grooves 27 to mount the carriage 28 for sliding movement longitudinally along the marked region 12. The carriage 28 may be removed from the plate member 11 by leftward sliding movement to locate the members 29 in the enlargements 26 for upward withdrawal of the carriage away from the plate member.

An elongate rule or alignment member 30 has one end region pivotally connected to the carriage 28, as by a pivot member or pin 31. The alignment member 36 is generally Hat and has one end region 32 resting on the upper side of the carriage 28, the pivot pin 31 extending transversely through both the alignment member and carriage. Further, the carriage is formed with an undercut groove 33 extending longitudinally of the carriage (in a direction generally normal to that of carriage movement) so that the end region 32 of the alignment member is movable both with the carriage and longitudinally along and relative to the carriage. Advantageously, both the carriage 28 and alignment member 30, as well as the plate member 11 are all of transparent or light-permeable material. The alignment member 30 may be provided with a straight line or marking 34 extending through the axis of pivot member 31 and substantially to the free end of the alignment member.

Operation of the device is illustrated in FIGURE 3. During the play of a game of pool or pocket billiards, it is often desirable to bank the object ball against the rail or cushion into one of the pockets. In order to determine the particular point on the cushion at which the object ball is to be banked, the carriage 28 is first moved along the marked region 12 so that the carriage groove 33 overlies the point on the marked region 12 corresponding to the location of the object ball on the pool table. The alignment member pivot 31 is then moved along groove .33 into position directly over that corresponding to the position of the object ball. Such condition is shown in FIGURE 3. If it is desired to bank the object ball into pocket No. 3, the alignment member 30 is swung into alignment with alignment marking No. 3, as illustrated, .and the intersection of alignment-member line 34 with cushion marking 15, as at point P, indicates the precise position of banking. The arrow line 35 indicates the path of object-ball movement to pocket 3. Thus, the alignment member 30 is swung to place its line 34 in alignment with-a particular alignment mark corresponding to the particular pocket intended to receive the ball.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, it is not always possible to calculate a bank shot for all pockets under all conditions of object-ball location with the device 10 in its illustrated, upright condition. However, by mere inversion of the device, operation as described hereinbefore may be employed by viewing the markings through the device.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, there is a pool-accessory device of the present invention generally designated lila, which is similar in all respects to the irst-described embodiment, except that the plate member Illa is extended entirely about the table representation 12a to obviate the need for reversing of the device, as described above.

More particularly, the marked region 12a of plate member 11a is located centrally of the latter having a rectangular cushion or rail marking 15a and pocket or hole markings lea respectively designated by number and color. The table representation 12a may also be provided with diamond markings 17:; about the cushion marking 15a and a gridwork of diamond line markings 18a and 19a.

Beyond the table representation 12a, the plate member Ilia is provided with equally spaced alignment markings 20a, respectively designated by number and color in keyed relation with hole markings 16a. The alignment markings 20a include the alignment markings 20 of the firstdescribed embodiment, and additional alignment markings arranged circumferentially about the entire marked region 12a.

A carriage 28a may be identical to the carriage 28 and extend across the table representation 12a having its opposite ends mounted in elongate openings or slots 25a formed in the plate member 11a extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the marked region 12a. The carriage 23a is thereby mounted for movement longitudinally along the entire length of marked region 12a, and is formed with 21 thru slot 33a extending longitudinally of the carriage and slidably mounting a pivot pin 31a for movement to any selected position along the slot. An elongate, generally straight alignment member 300 has one end region 32a carried by the pivot 31a for movement therewith, to mount the alignment member for swinging movement about the pivot axis.

In operation, considering the same problem as in the first-described embodiment, but attempting to bank the object ball in pocket 6, the pivot 31a is located over the object ball and the alignment member 30a swung to align its marking 34a with the alignment marking 20a designated 6. The intersection of line 34a with cushion marking 15a is designated by point Pa, and the path of the banked object ball is designated by arrow 35a. In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the plate member 11a may be of opaque material, if desired, as visibility through the plate member is not required.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a poolplaying accessory which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is otherwise well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. A poolplaying accessory comprising a plate member, one region of said plate member being provided with pocket and cushion markings in the arrangement of a pool table, an elongate alignment member, pivot means at one end of said alignment member for pivotally supporting the latter, and mounting means mounting said pivot means on said plate member for selective positioning of said pivot means at any desired point of said one region, said plate member being provided with alignment markings outside of said one region and keyed in correspondence with respective pocket markings, said alignment markings each being in alignment with the corresponding pocket marking and an additional pocket marking, whereby said pivot means is positionable at a point of said one region corresponding to the location of a ball to be played in a particular pocket and said alignment member is swingable into alignment with an alignment marking corresponding to the particular pocket for intersection of the alignment member with the cushion marking at a position of banking.

2. A poolplaying accessory according to claim 1, said mounting means comprising a carriage extending in one direction across said one region and mounted on said plate member for movement therealong generally normal to said one direction, said carriage having a guideway eX- tending in said one direction slidably mounting said pivot means.

3. A poolplaying accessory according to claim 1, said one region being located in one corner of said plate member, and said markings being visible on both sides of said plate member for use of the latter in an inverted condition.

4. A poolplaying accessory according to claim 1, said alignment markings each being in alignment with the corresponding pocket marking and the closest additional pocket marking.

5. A poolplaying accessory according to claim 1, said one region being located centrally of said plate member, and said alignment markings being arranged entirely about said one region.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,081,559 3/1963 Kaminsky 3529 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,076 1912 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POOLPLAYING ACCESSORY COMPRISING A PLATE MEMBER, ONE REGION OF SAID PLATE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH POCKET AND CUSHION MARKINGS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF A POOL TABLE, AN ELONGATE ALIGNMENT MEMBER, PIVOT MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID ALIGNMENT MEMBER FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE LATTER, AND MOUNTING MEANS MOUNTING SAID PIVOT MEANS ON SAID PLATE MEMBER FOR SELECTIVE POSITIONING OF SAID PIVOT MEANS AT ANY DESIRED POINT OF SAID ONE REGION, SAID PLATE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH ALIGNMENT MARKINGS OUTSIDE OF SAID ONE REGION AND KEYED IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH RESPECTIVE POCKET MARKINGS, SAID ALIGNMENT MARKINGS EACH BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING POCKET MARKING AND AN ADDITIONAL POCKET MARKING, WHEREBY SAID PIVOT MEANS IN POSITIONABLE AT A POINT OF SAID ONE REGION CORRESPONDING TO THE LOCATION OF A BALL TO BE PLAYED IN A PARTICULAR POCKET AND SAID ALIGNMENT MEMBER IS SWINGABLE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH AN ALIGNMENT MARKING CORRESPONDING TO THE PARTICULAR POCKET FOR INTERSECTION OF THE ALIGNMENT MEMBER WITH THE CUSHION MARKING AT A POSITION OF BANKING. 